Finding effective support for Maths is a difficult and potentially expensive exercise. It is important to put a little bit of time into considering the options available to you before you make a choice. 

With me, you get the continuity of the same, highly qualified, tutor each week. I can be flexible on time and duration of sessions in a way that is often impossible with larger organisations. I will assess your strengths and weaknesses; each session will be tailored to your needs and can be sped up, slowed down or changed depending on how that particular lesson progresses. I don't aim to be the cheapest, but am knowledgeable and committed, and will put time and energy into making sure that every session is a useful one that helps you progress to the best possible grades. 

Before we start...

...we need to chat! You, me and whoever is paying for it, so we can put faces to names, agree a format for the lessons and set an initial schedule. 

This will require a serious commitment for both of us. It is therefore important that we are all clear about each other's expectations. With a good plan in place and lots of hard work I am confident that I can help any student, regardless of the level, to make meaningful progress.

If you don't feel that I am the right person for you, please feel free to walk away. I wont be offended!

Sessions

Sessions will typically be 60 mins, 1-to-1 online. I can consider face-to-face in my dining room in Didsbury or small group sessions (face-to-face or online).

We will be using Google Meet for the video call. There is no charge or registration required for this, but to get all the integrations into the google products, having a Google account can help. The call can be accessed using any compatible device including laptop, tablet or phone (this can make it difficult to see a screen if I share information).

For the interactive whiteboard we will use Limnu. To use this it is necessary to create a free account. There are different ways of accessing the board depending on what tech you already have and your budget. The options in order of preference are:

• An iPad with an ePen

• A laptop with a graphics tablet - e.g. Wacom One (this is what I use)

• A laptop using the mouse or trackpad

The content of a session will be guided by you. A couple of questions e-mailed to me a couple of days before the session is a great basis for me to tailor a useful session. It could be something you didn't understand in class or a homework question you're struggling with or a scan of a test you've just completed. The more problems you can bring me, the better it will work.

Flexibility is key!!

A tutoring session is not the same as a classroom lesson. Although I will plan work for each time we meet, we will often deviate from the planned course as questions and issues arise. I have a vast bank of resources that I can draw on, so I will always have questions and examples to hand if you want to go down a different route. This is the power of one-to-one teaching.

Typically, a session will involve a combination of:

• You completing some questions to assess for strengths and areas that require focus. We will normally do this on online whiteboard software so that I can watch and comment as you go along.

• You send me work you have already done at school or college and we will work through it together. Ideally, I will get this in advance of the lesson so I can look it over before we meet.

• Me modelling specific questions, then you trying. I may model work on paper using a visualiser or on the whiteboard software. 

Over time the sessions will become more and more effective as we find what works best for you.

How it looks for the student

We can see each other over the call. Both of us are writing on an interactive whiteboard.

What it looks like from my end

I have a set of gadgets and tools to help the sessions work as smoothly as possible. Having 3 (count them!) screens allows me to see you, share a screen with some information and us both to work on an interactive whiteboard all at the same time. 

I'll be using a graphics tablet (the black rectangle on the desk) as I model work for you and add notes to your work in real time.

I use a visualiser (the green thing on the right), so that when we need to revert to pen and paper, you can watch while I write.

This is all designed for maximum impact of online lessons and has been built up through my experience as an Online Teacher, EdTech lead and Google Educator during lockdown.

Just ask...

I aim to build a positive relationship with my students and they should feel that they can ask questions as they come up rather than have to wait for our next session. I will do my best to answer as quickly as I can. This is all part of the service.

Finally, be open, honest and frank with me if something doesn't work well. We will adapt what we do until we find what works best for you.

I normally use the GSuite package of products from Google, so students should have a google account to get the most benefit. 

We will meet using Google Meet and share information using an Interactive Whiteboard, Google Drive, Whatsapp and E-mail. 

Don't worry if you haven't used all of these before, it is all very simple to use and there is no need to load any software on your computer (although there are some very useful apps for your mobile). How we use it all will depend upon what devices you have at your end, what we are working on and what you find the most effective.

I confess to being a bit of a techie geek. I'm always on the lookout for for effective and practical ways to support your learning. 

Finally the boring stuff...

Terms and Conditions

As the father of two grown up children, I am aware of the challenges of getting the right support. I want you to feel confident that the support is working and encourage you to offer suggestions and advice on how to get the best for your child. I would recommend a chat every couple of months to feedback on how things are going. Of course, if you have any concerns or questions, you can get in touch any time.

"Simon has tutored me for the past two years from year 12 to 13 for A Level Maths and I could not have asked for a better tutor! His lessons were designed so that they focused on my individual needs and targeted my weak areas in maths. Using the SF Maths website, created by Simon, was very helpful when I needed practice outside my lessons. If I struggled with any questions, I could always drop Simon a message and he would guide me through the question or go through similar questions the following lesson. He has been very supportive and has helped improve my grades and confidence in maths over the past two years, so if you’re looking for a maths tutor, look no further! " (A-Level student)

"Simon is currently tutoring my 15 year old son. I would highly recommend him. His lessons are well structured and uses interactive tools such as Jamboard. My son is regaining his confidence in Maths and we are both highly satisfied with Simons methods and approach to each session."  (GCSE parent)

"Simon has been an excellent tutor these past 2 years. I had him for A-level maths tutoring from start of year 12 to end of year 13, and over this time he helped build my confidence in maths massively. He explained content in a very understandable way, and would carry out model questions which was very useful. The website Simon created, SF maths, was also a brilliant tool for learning, with many links to practice questions and helpful videos. I couldn’t recommend Simon enough, he is a brilliant tutor. " (A-Level student)

"Simon helped me with GCSE maths, he explained things in a different way to how I’d been taught in school, which made things a lot clearer. I soon found that my marks in practice papers improved, which gave me the confidence that I could do maths. This ultimately led to me achieving the grade I needed to study the subjects I wanted to at A level. So, if you feel you need more support with maths, I would definitely recommend having tutoring with Simon." (GCSE student)

"Thanks for starting to tutor A-level maths my daughter! She’s enjoying the lessons and being challenged. You’ve restored her passion for maths." (A-Level parent) 

"Superb maths tutor. My daughter achieved a 9 in Further maths GCSE under Simons excellent tuition! Her school would not allow her to sit this exam as they did not think she was up to standard. Simon prepared her brilliantly for the exam boosting her confidence in this subject." (Level 2 Further Maths Parent)

"Simon has transformed my daughters attitude to maths in a very short time. She actively looks forward to her sessions and is enjoying maths for the first time in her life. Her understanding and confidence are growing, and Simon is getting her into a great place ready for her GCSE exams next summer. She is a quiet, shy girl and it`s great to hear her chatting and engaging in her lessons. Thank you Simon!" (GCSE Parent)

"In the short period that he has been teaching him he has helped fill in his knowledge gap and have we noticed a considerable improvement in his college grades. Our son always comes away from each session extremely happy especially when Simon is able to make him understand problems that previously frustrated him. I would highly recommend Simon" (A-Level Parent)

I can supply references from previous students if you would like to discuss with previous students directly.